Bluefly is slashing prices by an extra 30% for today alone, so we thought we’d see if they had any cute suits. It did not disappoint: behold, a lovely Elie Tahari suit with a slightly odd twist: metal mesh trim. We like that it looks like a normal, boring suit from afar, but has this harder edge when you get close to it. (Although, suffice it to say, on our first wearing we would not accessorize the skirt with good pantyhose.) The ‘Jacqueline’ jacket is $270 (down from $448), and the ‘Pacey’ skirt is $179 (down from $298). (These prices DO reflect the extra 30% off price today.)

A few weeks ago there was some debate about whether younger women can get away with wearing colorful suits without seeming like they’re too . . . old. This was particularly interesting to us — we’ll admit we’ve never worn color suits, but it had never occurred to us that it was something exclusively for older women. We didn’t wear them because it seemed… not us. (A friend of ours bought such a suit once on deep discount — a purple suit — and it has sat in her closet for three years now with the tags still on.) But since those comments we have thought long and hard and no, we generally don’t see younger women wearing colored suits.

We thought we’d open a thread on this and maybe take a little pollsky…Multiple answers are allowed. To clarify: by “colorful suits” we mean a color other than a neutral black, gray, navy, white, or beige.

(Should you be looking for a nice red suit, however, we thought we’d suggest this one at left, from Ann Taylor — it is currently $219 for the jacket and $109 for the skirt, but today there’s a sale: 30% off every single purchase.)

On the off chance anyone’s company is still having their black-tie affair this year, we thought we’d give some advice on what to wear, and what not to wear. (Although the best advice we can give you is: ask a colleague who’s already been to the dance at least once.) Photo credit at left: the perfect martini, originally uploaded to Flickr by berbercarpet

1. First of all, ways to tell dressy formal attire is required: generally, your invitation will tell you what to wear. Secondary clues that dressy attire is necessary:

the event is held on a Saturday, not a Friday

significant others are invited

the event is held in a swank place that is not necessarily well-located near the office

your company holds two parties: one for staffers (held on a Friday night near or at the office) and one is held for the executives/lawyers (the dress code will be very different for the two events) (check out this advice on what to wear to a more low-key holiday office party)

Liking these posts? Follow Corporette on Twitter — this is the edited version of what we’re reading! (We also Tweet if we hear about a good sale.)

– Apropos of nothing, we thought we’d post this picture of this Versace – Tweed Short Sleeve Jacket because it illustrates something a few readers expressed confusion over — how to wear a turtleneck with a short-sleeved suit. Pretty, right? AND, the jacket is on sale from about $2200 to $680.

– Incidentally, HP updated his post to clarify that a) he has friends who are women, so therefore he’s not against women, and b) he’s anonymous! he could BE a woman. (Yes, and we COULD be a man. Men, even! Anything’s possible.)

– Bargains, bargains, everywhere — Teri Agins offers advice on how to get the most out of it. [WSJ]

– Still have a holiday party to go to, yet no time to shop for a frock? Bunnyshop tackles the question of where to go for one-stop shopping. [Bunnyshop]

– If you’re partying with coworkers, Jezebel distills the various advice articles out there for you: Don’t get too drunkypants. [Jezebel] (Here here! That is why God created the afterparty.)

– Finally: Wot’s that? You haven’t voted for the best quirky blog out there yet? Please drop by and vote for Corporette. [ABA Journal]

Wow, we asked and you guys answered: What is fair to give your secretary or administrative assistant for a holiday “present” (or “bonus” or “tip,” depending on how you want to look at it). The lively debate in the comments was a bit more interesting than the answers to the poll, but in case anyone is curious — nearly 700 of you voted, and these are the results at the moment (as always, the poll is still open).